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Both Knees Aching While Climbing Stairs / Sitting. Work As A Truck Driver. What Has Happened ?
Question: I am 27 yrs old, male, about 6'1" tall and weigh abt 340lbs. For the past two-three weeks I have been having aching in both knees in the front of my knees when I climb stairs or getting up from a seated position. I am a commercial truck driver and recently started back to work after being laid off for two years. Can anyone tell me what is going on with my knees? My fiancé is a home infusion nurse and is thinking all kinds of things. Please help.
Hi,
Thanks for writing.
1. First thing I note is your weight. Your BMI = 44.9 which indicates you are morbidly obese.
2. Your symptoms are suggestive of early arthritis of your knee joint. Pain in front of knees indicates you are probably suffering from patello-femoral arthritis.
3. Do your knees develop swelling? Is there any other joint involvement like small joints of hands, fingers etc. Are you suffering from early morning stiffness of your lower back? - These symptoms indicate you might be suffering from polyarthritis like Rheumatoid or sero-negative spondylo arthropathy.
4. What is the cause for your obesity? - Your parents also obese (genetic)? recent weight gain despite normal food intake? - Rule out conditions like hypothyroidism etc. Any steroid intake for any other diseases?
5. I would suggest you to get your knees examined by an orthopaedician to find out the cause for arthritis. He might do a complete examination of your knee +/- back, take x-rays of your knees, might do blood tests to rule out rheumatoid or sero-negative spondyloarthropathy based on your clinical findings.
6. Whatever might be the cause, you have to understand that your knees are under more stress due to your body weight. So, the most important thing is to lose your body weight - by exercises (swimming is best) and decreasing/ modifying your diet.
7. Avoiding climbing up / down stairs, squatting, sitting cross legged might decrease the stress in your knees.
8. Try using knee cap in both knees while walking till the time you consult your doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need more help.
Get well soon
Dr.Sathyadharan
Thanks for writing.
1. First thing I note is your weight. Your BMI = 44.9 which indicates you are morbidly obese.
2. Your symptoms are suggestive of early arthritis of your knee joint. Pain in front of knees indicates you are probably suffering from patello-femoral arthritis.
3. Do your knees develop swelling? Is there any other joint involvement like small joints of hands, fingers etc. Are you suffering from early morning stiffness of your lower back? - These symptoms indicate you might be suffering from polyarthritis like Rheumatoid or sero-negative spondylo arthropathy.
4. What is the cause for your obesity? - Your parents also obese (genetic)? recent weight gain despite normal food intake? - Rule out conditions like hypothyroidism etc. Any steroid intake for any other diseases?
5. I would suggest you to get your knees examined by an orthopaedician to find out the cause for arthritis. He might do a complete examination of your knee +/- back, take x-rays of your knees, might do blood tests to rule out rheumatoid or sero-negative spondyloarthropathy based on your clinical findings.
6. Whatever might be the cause, you have to understand that your knees are under more stress due to your body weight. So, the most important thing is to lose your body weight - by exercises (swimming is best) and decreasing/ modifying your diet.
7. Avoiding climbing up / down stairs, squatting, sitting cross legged might decrease the stress in your knees.
8. Try using knee cap in both knees while walking till the time you consult your doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need more help.
Get well soon
Dr.Sathyadharan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
My weight problems started with several years of prednisone use for my asthma when I was a child.
No swelling. I have very cold legs and feet at times. I also get leg cramps from time to time. I do sometimes wake up with low back pain after doing something heavy. Like after I stained the deck. Ni other joint pain.
No swelling. I have very cold legs and feet at times. I also get leg cramps from time to time. I do sometimes wake up with low back pain after doing something heavy. Like after I stained the deck. Ni other joint pain.
Hi,
1. Now since you are already on steroids for chronic time, diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis or sero-negative spondylo-arthropathy can get masked.
2. Your low back pain after heavy work indicates stress related rather than spondylo-arthropathy.
3. So now we are probably narrowed down to weight related (steroids induced) stress in your knee leading to?osteo-arthritis.
4. NSAID's / Glucosamine - diacerein are the usual drugs for osteo-arthritis
5. Knee caps, short wave diathermy / Interferential therapy, Exercises which strengthen your thigh muscles (quadriceps) like straight leg raising, static quadriceps exercise can also help you.
5. Till the time you see your doctor (an orthopaed) for proper examination & investigations, you can follow the life style modifications which I have advised you - weight reduction, avoiding stressful activities etc.
Get well soon,
Dr.P.Sathyadharan
1. Now since you are already on steroids for chronic time, diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis or sero-negative spondylo-arthropathy can get masked.
2. Your low back pain after heavy work indicates stress related rather than spondylo-arthropathy.
3. So now we are probably narrowed down to weight related (steroids induced) stress in your knee leading to?osteo-arthritis.
4. NSAID's / Glucosamine - diacerein are the usual drugs for osteo-arthritis
5. Knee caps, short wave diathermy / Interferential therapy, Exercises which strengthen your thigh muscles (quadriceps) like straight leg raising, static quadriceps exercise can also help you.
5. Till the time you see your doctor (an orthopaed) for proper examination & investigations, you can follow the life style modifications which I have advised you - weight reduction, avoiding stressful activities etc.
Get well soon,
Dr.P.Sathyadharan
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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